Bocker



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I (No Model.)

J. B. KNICKERBOOKBR.

GAS METER.

No. 447,883. Patented Mar. 1o, 189,1.

.5, f Y L EEES (No Mom.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

J. B. KNIGKERBOGKBR. GAS METER.

No. 447,883. Patented Mar. l0, 1891.

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UNITE Fries,

JAMESZB. KNICKERBOCKER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

GAS-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,883, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed July 1ll 1890. Serial No. 358,460. (No model.)

T0 tZZ whom t may concer/t.-

Be it known that I, JAMES B. KNICKER- HOOKER, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Meters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which like letters and figures refer to like parts.

My invention relates to the construction of meters for natural or artificial gas or other Iiuids, and will be understood from the followingdescription.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my device. Fig. 2 is a detail view ot' the outlet half of the meter,V the diaphragm being removed and the casing partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, showing the position of the parts when the valves have reached the limit of their movement on the right-hand side.

In detail my device comprises a casing made in two halves c c', between which passes an elastic diaphragm (Z, having metal back` ing-plates m on either side thereof, thewhole connected together at the center by abolt 15, sockets being cut through the ends of the bolt to receive the ends ot' the diaphragm-le vers Z. On the Outside of the casing is a hollow rim uf, between which and the casing is a channel 10 for the passage of the gas. At either end of the casin g are connections screwthreaded to receive pipes, i being the inlet and o the outlet end. The passage-way on the inlet side has partitions 16 17 18, the former providing a seat for the valve t', which has open ports on eitherside and is connected to a stem s, the outer end of the valve passing through the partition 17, while the par tition beyond the valve marked 1S has an openin g closed by a screw-plug c2, which when taken out will 'allow the removal of the valve, and a similar arrangement is found in the outlet side of the machine. The valve-stein is connected to a stirrup-lever Z, whose ends pass about Athe valve-stem and bear against a button on the end, as shown in Fig. 2. To this stirrup-lever at 9 is connected the end of a coiled spring sp, whose opposite end is connected at 5 to the axle of the diaphragm-lever Z. This lever is provided with an arm having a curved slot SZ, which passes over a pin 1, connected with the stirrup-lever Z, and the movement of the diaphragm-leverZ is limited by the length of this slot. The stirruplever is pivoted at 4 to a hanger 7, bolted to the inside of the casing. On the outlet side the valve o has a similarstem s, about which a similar stirrup-lever Z passes, having a coiled spring connected at 9, the other end of the spring being pivoted to the axle of the diaphragmlever on that side, which has a similar projection, with a slot passing about a pin in the stirrup-lever. The outlet-valve is preferably somewhat different in construction from the inlet-valve, as shown in the drawings, and has seats in the walls 16 and 17, corresponding in function and in operation with those of the inlet side, the valve working upon the outside of these walls in stead of the inside, as shown in the other half of the machine.

fr is the registering mechanism, having the usual dial and a toothed wheel 11, mounted upon a shat't carried in the casing, and detents 2 and 3, 'engaging with the teeth of the' wheel, a spring sp connecting the two and `holding them in position, these detents being pivoted to an arm which is formed in two parts ct a', locked by a set-screw 22 to permit its adjustment as to length for regulating the stroke of the arm a.

The mechanism operates as follows: Gas being admitted through the inlet t' passes into the adjacent chamber and through the open outer end of the valve o, and up around the passage-way 10 and through the opening 19 into the chamber 18, which is on the outlet side ot the diaphragm. Here the passageway of the gas is stopped, and it cannot escape through the outlebvalve o', which is normally held closed by the action of the spring sp. As the pressure of the gas in the chamber 13 increases it pushes the diaphragm to the right, and this throws the levers Z in the same direction until the end 2O of the slot SZ strikes against the pin 1 on the stirrup-lever Z, forcing it over until the connectingpoint 9 ot the spring sp passes beyond the center of the pivot ,When the tension ot' the spring automatically throws the lever still farther forward and outward, carrying the valve u from its seat in the partition 16 and ICO seating it on partition 17, preventing the gas from escaping through that end of the valve and opening the other end, so that the gas rushes through the ports of the inner uend of the valve -into the chamber 1t on the inlet side of the diaphragm, thus counteracting the pressure upon the otherside. Atthe same time the valvez;l on the outlet side is operated in the same manner by the action of the spring sp forcing the outlet-valve inward until it finds its seat against the partition 17, openingand releasingl the opposite end ofthe valve from its seat in the partition 16, thus allowing the gas which has accumulated in the chamber 13 to pass out through the ports of the valve to the outlet-pipe o. The pressure being thereby released on the outlet side of the diaphragm, the gas passes through the ports of the inner end of the valve upon the inlet side, forcing the diaphragm back to the left, and the levers l reverse the previous movement ot' the stirrup-levers, forcing the valves in a contrary direction, thus maintaininga proper equilibrium. During this operation the lever Z in the chamber 13 on the outlet side of the diaphragm being pivoted tothe shaft 5 operates the arm n, moving the detents 2 and 3, one ot which pushes and the other pulls against the teeth of the wheel 11, and of course each revolution of the wheel w is registered by an index-hand on the dial outside in the ordinary manner. When the gas enters the inlet t', it passes through the outer ports of the valve t; in the direction of the curved arrows and around the passageway 10 through the upper opening 19into the chamber 13 on the outlet side of the diaphragm. As the chamber fills,the diaphragm is forcedto the left until it comes in contact with the wall of the casing, as shown in Fig. 3, and the operative parts upon that side will be entirely clear of the chamber 14. Then through the operation of the Aspring sp the valve u is forced outward, iinding its seat on the partition 17, freeing it from its seat on the partition 16, thus opening a way for the gas through the valve-ports on the lefthand side for entrance into the chamber 14, cutting ottl the gas and preventing any further inflow through the passage-way 10 into the chamber 13. \Vhile this movement is being accomplished a similar effect is produced upon the opposite side. VThe travel of the lever Z, bringing the end 20 of the slot against the pin upon the stirrup-lever Z', has brought the connecting-point 9 past the pivotal point 4. The spring sp has then exerted its force t-o throw the valve t" inward, seating it upon the outside of` the partition 17 and freeing it from contact with the partition 16, closing the ports on theleft-hand and opening those on the right-hand side of the valve, and the gas that has accumulated in the chamber-13 may then find its Way through the open ports'on the right hand of the valve QJ up over the valve and out the pipe o. In other words, the entrance of the gas into the chamber 1-1 displaccs that in the chamber 13 its movement and direction being as hereinbefore mentioned.

The next movementin the operation of the machine is as follows: As the chamber 1t fills, the diaphragm is forced away from the righthand wall of the casing and toward the left, carrying with it the levers Zand their connections, effecting a reverse movementof the valves at the moment when the connectingpoint E) has been carried to the left of the pivotal point Ll. lhe metal backing of the diaphragm on the lefthand side comes in contact with the wall of the casing, and the gas in chamber 14 finds its way through the lower opening 19 and around the passage-way 10, but it cannot yet escape, as the outer ports of the valve 'v' are closed and its further progress'is checked until the pressure upon the inlet side of the diaphragm reverses the position of the valves.

It will be observedthat the valves are controlled and held at all times by the springs sp, so that the diaphragm can be set vertically or horizontally,or even atan angle, and

Awhether it is true or level makes no difference in the operation of the valves, they being always held in proper relation bythe action of the springs sp. l

The levers l connected on each side of the diaphragm operate simultaneously and in the same direction, the one operating 1 he valve through the spring and its stirrup-lever on the inlet and the other on the outletside, and as the gas enters the chamber the diaphragm is thrown clear over to the other side, so that the entire chamber of the casing is filled, the gas that had collected on the opposite side being displaced,and each movement of the lever in either direction is registered upon the dial, thus correctly gaging the flow. Itis essential, therefore, to the operation of my machine that the diaphragm should be flexible, and that the levers l should `be so disposed that they may be forced far enough to one side by the pressure of the gas upon the diaphragm to crowd the stirrup-lever connected with the valve-stem over beyond a vertical line, passing through the center of the pivot 4 and a point 9, where the spring is connected to thestirrup-lever, and that from this point the tension of the spring itself should automatically effect the movement of the valve, forcing it away from its hold againstthe seat in the partition-plates set in the chambers adjacent to the outlet and inlet pipes, and the arrangement of the mechanism producing this result is the principal feature of my invention. If the movement of the valve were directly actuated by the pressure of the lever controlled by the diaphragm, the result would be very different and the device would be irregular in movement and uncertain in result. In other words, the throw of the valve must not be directly effected by the movement of the diaphragm, but must at a certain point be instantaneously effected by a mechanism IOO IOR

IIO

independent of and not controlled by the gas pressure, for it' so controlled the result would be to open both valves and let the gas pass directly through the machine without operating the registering mechanism. This cannot happen in my device, for both the valves are controlled by the springs sp, and as one set of the valve parts are open the other are closed, and vice versa, and the pull of the spring sp is always against the pressure upon the diaphragm.

At 6 6 are openings closed by screw-plugs, one on each side of the diaphragm, to allow the removal of water, sediment, or dirt, which might and ot'ten does accumulate in the outlet and inlet chambers, and such removal may be accomplished wlthout interfering with the adjustment of the valves or the operation ot' the machine.

I am aware that meters have been constructed where bellows and pistons have been used for registering the fiow of gas; but these are objectionable, for the bellows takes up too much room inside the machine, thus interfering with the operation of the working parts, and the displacement of the gas in the chamber is imperfectly accomplished, while the folds of the bellows by constant operation are injuriously affected and soon become worn and liable to be ruptured, and no means are provided for cleaning or removing dirt or water from the apparatus without taking it apart, necessitating` its removal from its connections and involving much delay, trouble, and expense. All these objections are obviated in my meter, as I accomplish the result by the use of a single diaphragm or dividingsheet and the displacement of the gas, and the division of the registered from the unregistered gasis effected without any strain upon the operative parts, and the action of the diaphragm under varying pressures is uniform on both sides.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

l. In a gas-meter, a casing composed of two equivalent parts, having outlet and inlet openings, and a single flexible diaphragm centrally secured therein, such casing provided with an outer rim, whereby a channel for the passage of the gas through openings in the diaphragm is formed between the rim and the walls of the central diaphragm-chamber, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a gas-meter, a casing composed of two equivalent parts with inlet and outlet connections on opposite sides of such casing, a single flexible diaphragm centrally secured therein, outlet and inlet valves seated in partitions formed in the halves of the casing adjacent to the inlet and outlet openings,levers connected to the diaphragm on each side, and spring-actuated secondary levers connected to the valve-stems and adapted to be controlled during a part of their movement by the diaphragm-levers and automatically controlled by the springs when such lever has reached a certain point, such casing having a channel to permit the passage of the gas through openings in the diaphragm between the inner wall of the casing and the wall ot' the diaphragm-chamber, all combined substantially as-shown and described.

3. In a gas-meter, a casing having an exterior rim providing a channel-Way between the rim and casing forthe passage ot' the gas, such casing divided into two parts, a single diaphragm secured between them dividing the central chamber, an inlet formed upon one side and an outlet upon the other side ot' the casing, outlet and inlet valves seated in partitions formed in the ends adjacent to the outlet and inlet openings, and a pair of diaphragm-levers connected on either side of the diaphragm and adapted to initiate the movement of auxiliary levers pivoted to the interior walls of the casing and connected to the valve-stems at the other and controlled by a spring which automatically operates the valves when the action of the diaphragmlever has carried the auxiliary lever beyond a certain. point, in combination with a dialregistering mechanism connected to the casing and actuated by one of the diaphragmlevers, all combined substantially as shown and described.

4t. A gas-meter comprising a hollow casing composed of two similar halves having outlet and inlet openings on opposite sides of the casing, a single flexible diaphragm centrally secured between the halves thereof, and outlet and inlet valves supported in partitions formed in the casing, their valve-stems con-v nected to a stirrup-lever controlled by a coiled spring whose tension normally operates against the pressure upon the diaphragm, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a gas-meter, a hollow casing having an outside rim formingachannel-Way for the passage of the gas between the rim and the casing, a single diaphragm dividingthe chamber and secured between the two halves of the casing, outlet and inlet openings, and valves arranged therein, the movement of such valves controlled by a spring connected to the stem, Whose tension normally operates to resist the pressure of the diaphragm, in combination with levers connected to the diaphragm and the casing provided with projections for initiating the movement of the spring-controlled stirrup-lever, and a registering mechanism connected to the casing, all combined substantially as shown and described. n

6. A gas-meter comprising a hollow casing form-edin two equal parts centrally connected to a single fiexible diaphragm secured between them, having outlet and inlet openings, and valves, the latter seated in walls formed in the interior of the casing, such valves actuated by the tension of acoiled spring connected through stirrup-leve'rs to their stems, the movement of such stirrup-levers initiated through arms connected with the ICO diaphragm, whereby the final action of the valve is controlled by a spring independently of the further movement of the diaphragm, all combined substantially as shown and described.

7. In a gas-meter, a hollow casing composed of two equivalent parts having outlet and inlet openings, valves seated in walls formed in a casing adjacent to such outlet and inlet openings, and a single flexible diaphragm extending from side to side, dividing the holle7 chamber of the casing, an exterior passageway for the gas through openings in the diaphragm provided between the walls of the rim and those of the diaphragm-chamber, in combination with a dial-registering mechanism, substantially as shown and described.

8. A gasmeter comprising a hollow casing formed of two equal halves secured together and a single flexible diaphragm set between such halves, forming an inlet-chamber upon one side of such diaphragm and an outletehamber upon the opposite side, such casing provided with an exterior passage-way for the gas between the walls of a rim and those of the casing, sul'istantally as shown and described.

9. A gas-meter comprising a hollow casing formed of two similar halves secured'together and a single flexible diaphragm set between such halves, whereby an inlet-chamber is formed upon one side thereof and an outletehamber upon the opposite side, such casing provided with an exterior passage-way for the gas between the walls of the central diaphragm chamber and the outer wallof the easing, such diaphragm perforated to admit the passage of the gas through such channel and through the diaphragm, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this lst day of July, 1890. i

JAMES B. KNICKERBOCKER. \Vitnesses:

C. P. JACOBS, ll. D. NEALY. 

